St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-02

follow If payment were not forthcoming.
The threat was unheaded. and the Times
began publishing the evidence against the
ring. The newspaper itself had no COM
prehenslon Of how immediate and terrible
would be the effect. Within few days
proposal was made TO buy the journal; the
proposal coming obviously from Tweed
and his associates. 1t was declined, of
course; but then the Times was sure of its
scent. The outcome is familiar. The
other papers Joined it at the eleventh hour;
the community was thoroughly aroused;
the ring was Overthrown, and poetic justice
was inflicted. The New York press-the
Times neutrality-suspicious. itself tumultu-
ously and ridiculously, since the great
triumph of the right was entirely due to the
most sordid motives.
Sharp must be worth several millions,
most OF which he has illegitimately gained.
Fifty-eight years ago he made his first visit
to this city Oh raft Of lumber-he is ma
tive OF an interior county-and was subse-
Quently hired as a raft hand at SIG month.
Shrewd, thrifty, energetic, he saved little
by little. buying lumber himself until he
grew to be large dealer. He also specu-
lated in land. and always to his advantage.
Some twenty-five years ago he removed here
and began to build and operate horse rail-
roads. and with unvarying success. He has
always, imagine, executed his purposes
by bribery, direct or indirect, and was there
fore much astonished lately when such an
ado was made about his alleged approaches
to the city aldermen. He has blayed it out,
as Tweed did for long time, and plainly is
of opinion that the public has no concern
with what he chooses to regard as his private
transactions. What is little bribery. more
or less, that such hubbub should be raised
about it? And in New York, too, of all
cities in the world. Jacob Sharp. though
now in his 10th year, is a why, strong, ag-
gresSive man. He looks like the character
he bears: his face is heavy, coarse, reso-
lutte, denoting that he would not hesitate
concerning the means to an end, when the
end was desirable. He declares himself to
be man of the world. and he prosecutes
his aims by worldly methods.
A wholly self-made man Of a very differ
ent type is John D. Rockefeller, who has
become citizen of New York, and who is
seen almost daily in Wall street. He
bought recently for $780, 600 the house in
Fiftyfourth street. No. West. formerly
occupied by Mrs. Worsham, who has since
become the wife of Coils P. Huntington.
The house is not very remarkable,
though spacious and well built. But
it is remarkable for it's handsome,
nicely kept grounds on each side of it.
which, in such an architectural desert as
this, are delight to the eye. He began
life in very humble way at New Bedford,
Mass, having only a rudimentary educa-
ton. and abundant POVERTY pressing him on
every hand. He went west after reaching
his majority, and soon manifested his
capacity and made money. After Operat
ating some time in the oil regions of Penn
sylvania, he established the Standard Oil
company, which is perhaps the most gigan-
tic monopoly in the United States, and the
most profitable corporation. Its immense
success is largely attributed to him. His
mental grasp, financial acumen, and power
OF combination are scarcely surpassed any
where as is shown by the fact that his for
tune is estimated in excess of 81, 600, 600. He
is all indefatigable worker; he ordinarily
spends about nine hours at the central offices
i'll lower Broadway; has commercial appoint
ments nearly every night. and is thinking of
business most OF the time when he is
awake. His chief recreation seems to be
piety. He is severely orthodox, having a
passion for Sunday schools. He attends
church twice OF Sunday. never travelling
on that day, and being among the most
rigid of SabbatarianS He is very quiet and
sober in manner, and might readily be mis-
taken for ali evangelical clergyman. He
does not look much more than so, although
he is probably sixty; dresses plainly but
neatly, and appears absorbed in thought,
though rather, it is to be inferred, of secu-
lar than spiritual things. He has no dssi-
pations outside of theology and is ranked
as model of domesticity and a pillar of
the church. He seems to have liking for
pictures; at least he buys good many and
seems proud of his collection. Personally
he resembles dozens Of men you might meet
on Broadway, but not one in a hundred
thousand has his rare financial capacity and
force OF concentration Oh monetary themes.
The road Of wealth must certainly lead
to New York, for nearly all men who have
gained extraordinary wealth come here to
fix their abode. One of these is II. Victor
Newcomb. who is now styled one of the
kings of Wall street. There are so many
of these that royalty is not special dis
tinction among them. Any big operator in
the street who can hold together for two or
three years may crown himself. and nobody
will dispute his title. Newcomb is a Ken
tuckian, native of Louisville, think,
well educated and well reared: therefore
not, in popular acceptance, self made. He
studied law, L understand, but never prac-
ticed. He entered the Louisville & Nash
vile railroad office at about rs, manifested
remarkable degree of railway ability,
and mounted so fast from Office to office
that he was president of the company at 80.
There he had every chance to speculate.
and he protited by it to the utmost. The
stock was very low at that time. and he i'm
proved it greatly and for his own benefit
1t has long been speculative property, and
is STILL nobody on the outside knowing
where it will be in six months, why it goes
up or why it goes down. When he re-
signed, c. G. Baldwin succeeded him, and
wrecked the road and himself. Newcomb
is now an adventurous Spectator, and has
had unusual luck. He considers himself
worth IS, 100000, and expects to be worth
$2h. 0O0. 900 within few years. He is
about so, tranquil, amiable man. with a
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